Portable, collapsible evaporative cooler



Oct. 18, 1966 L. M. BUTLER PORTABLE, GOLLAPSIBLE EVAPORATIVE COOLER Filed Feb. 5. 1965 INVENTOR. LORD M. BUTLER m & jaw

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United States Patent 3,279,208 PORTABLE, COLLAPSIBLE EVAPORATIVE COOLER Lord M. Butler, Desert Center, Calif. (P.O. Box 111, Temecula, Calif.) Filed Feb. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 430,655 7 Claims. (Cl. 62316) The present invention relates to food storage and more specifically to a portable, collapsible evaporative cooler for food and beverages.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a food and beverage cooler, especially adapted for campers, which can be hung from any convenient support to prevent tampering by animals, the cooler having a porous or absorbent enclosing wall which is kept moist by water from a reservoir or storage container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cooler having adjustable means for accurately controlling the water feed, so that the cooling effect can be varied to suit particular Weather conditions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cooler wherein the water feed incorporates a barrier against crawling insects which might otherwise gain access from the overhead support.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cooler in which the enclosing wall is of flexible material, such as woven fabric, and is readily collapsible into a small space for storage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cooler which can be stored in the assembled but collapsed condition and is ready for use immediately when hung from a support and provided with cooling water.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the complete cooler assembly as set up for use;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view, partially in section, of the water feed system;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE '1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, but showing an alternative method of securing a shelf.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing.

The cooler has a body 10 which is a tubular element of flexible absorbent material, such as woven fabric. Burlap is particularly suitable, but other cloth material, or even canvas may be used. The body 10 is gathered tightly at the upper end to form a closed neck 12 and is secured by a tie cord 14, or other suitable fastening means, the lower end 16 being similarly gathered and tightly held by a tie cord 18. For access to the interior the body 10 is provided with a longitudinal slide fastener 20, extending substantially the full length between the upper and lower ends. Inside the body adjacent the upper end is an upper spreader shelf 22 which is disposed transversely and holds the body open in the cross sectional shape of the cooler. As illustrated the spreader shelf is a disc, but can be square or any other suitable shape. The spreader shelf 22 has an outer rim 24 with a circumferential channel 26, in which are radially projecting retaining pins 28. The body material is pressed into the channel 26 and punctured by the pins 28, a retaining band 30 being fitted into said channel to hold the material in place and prevent the spreader shelf from slipping, as in FIGURE 5. Retaining band 30 does not extend completely around the channel 26, but stops a short distance on either side of slide fastener 20 to leave free flap portions 32 of the body material, the ends of said band being secured by lock pins 34 through the rim, or similar means. Adjacent the lower end of the body is a lower spreader shelf 36, identical to shelf 22 and secured in a like manner.

As an alternative arrangement each spreader shelf may be a simple flat plate, as indicated at 38 in FIGURE 6, with circumferentially spaced holes 40 through which a cord 42 can be threaded or stitched to hold the body material to the edge of the plate.

The cooler is hung by a suspension cord 44, which may be attached to or be an extension of tie cord 14, or merely tied around neck 12. When the cooler is suspended the spreader shelves hold the body open to iorm a large cylindrical container, no supports being necessary, yet the unit can be collapsed to a thickness little more than that of the shelves together.

Water for cooling by evaporation is contained in a reservoir 46, which may be a plastic bottle or similar container, and is provided with a hanger 48 for attachment to a tree branch or other support. Below the reservoir 46 is an open topped metering tank 50, having an upright supply pipe 52 which is secured to the reservoir by a suitable connector 54. At the lower end of the supply pipe 52 is a longitudinal metering slot outlet 56, the effective opening of which is controlled by a metering sleeve 58 slidable along the supply pipe. Alternatively the metering sleeve could be of thin material and rolled from one end rather than sliding. The level of water in the tank 50 will rise only to the lower end of sleeve 58, the reservoir 46 being sealed to prevent rapid emptying. On the lower end of tank 50 is a loop or eye 60 to which the suspension cord 44 is attached, so that the reservoir, metering tank and cooler hang in linear order.

Fitted over the suspension cord 44 is a drip sleeve 62 to the lower end of which is fixed an open topped distributing trap 64, illustrated as a funnel-like element although the exact shape is not critical. A wick 66 is attached at one end to the drip sleeve 62 by a clip 63, or similar means, the wick extending upwardly and having its other end immersed in metering tank 50. In the drip sleeve 62 is an outlet 70, slightly below the upper edge of trap 64, through which water escapes to the interior of the drip sleeve and flows down the suspension cord 44. The position of outlet 70 ensures that a particular level of water will be maintained in the trap 64. On top of the neck 12 is a distributing cap 72, which may be of absorbent material similar to that of body 10, the drip sleeve 62 resting on said cap so that the cap is saturated with water and will distribute the water evenly over the upper end of the body.

The depth of water in the metering tank 50, controlled by the position of sleeve 58, determines the rate at which water will travel along the wick 66 to the trap 64 and then to the body 10. Thus the metering sleeve 58 controls the evaporative cooling effect and can be adjusted to suit the particular climate. If necessary, a drip bucket 74 can be suspended beneath the lower end 16 to catch and conserve water for re-use. The drip bucket and water therein functions as a ballast against swaying.

By opening slide fastener 20 the entire interior of the cooler is accessible and a large quantity of food and beverages can be stored. When closed the cooler is sealed against flying insects, which are further discouraged by the wet body material. Crawling insects which may descend over the reservoir are initially stopped by the water in the metering tank. If insects succeed in reaching the trap 64 they are finally stopped by the water therein, since there is no direct path between the drip sleeve 62 and the exterior of said trap to reach the cooler.

Once the cooler is saturated, about one gallon of water will be sufficient for a day of use, unless the climate is very warm. If prolonged use is required, a larger water supply can be provided separately and fed into the metering tank 50 at a suitable rate.

If the cooler is made large enough, an intermediate shelf or shelves can be added between the upper and lower spreaders for extra storage.

When not in use the entire assembly can be collapsed for storage without any dismantling, and is then ready for immediate use when required. Since there is no supporting frame to be assembled and the few parts of the assembly are simple, with no critical tolerances, the cost is reduced to a minimum.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. An evaporative cooler, comprising:

a substantially tubular body of flexible absorbent material having closed ends;

spreader shelves secured transversely in said body adjacent the ends;

said body having flap portions opening for access to the interior, and means to secure said flap portions together to close the body;

a source of water comprising a reservoir and having adjustable means for controlling the level of water therein;

water conducting means connecting said tank to said body;

and means to suspend said body from a support.

2. An evaporative cooler according to claim 1 and including distributing means on said body to distribute water evenly thereon.

3. An evaporative cooler, comprising:

a substantially tubular body of flexible absorbent material having closed ends;

spreader shelves secured transversely in said body adjacent the ends;

said body having flap portions opening for access to the interior, and means to secure said flap portions together to close the body;

a metering tank having a supply pipe;

flow controlling means in said supply pipe adjustable to regulate the water level in said tank;

a source of water connected to said supply pipe;

and water conducting means between said tank and said body.

4. An evaporative cooler according to claim 3, wherein said flow controlling means comprises an elongated slot outlet in said supply pipe opening into said tank, and a sleeve adjustably mounted on said supply pipe to vary the effective opening of said slot outlet.

5. An evaporative cooler according to claim 3 and including an open distributing container having an outlet above the lower end thereof to maintain a water level in said container which constitutes a barrier against crawling insects, said outlet communicating with said body;

said water conducting means extending from said tank to said container.

6. An evaporative cooler according to claim 5, wherein said body is suspended below said tank, and said water conducting means comprises an absorbent wick.

7. An evaporative cooler according to claim 5 and including a distributor cap of absorbent material extending over the upper end of said body, said distributing container resting on said cap and supplying water directly thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 473,478 4/1892 Schrib 62-3l6 889,681 6/1908 Hay a- 6 2-616 WILLIAM J. WYE, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN EVAPORATIVE COOLER, COMPRISING: A SUBSTANTIALLY TUBULAR BODY OF FLEXIBLE ABSORBENT MATERIAL HAVING CLOSED ENDS; SPREADER SHELVES SECURED TRANSVERSELY IN SAID BODY ADJACENT THE ENDS; SAID BODY HAVING FLAP PORTIONS OPENING FOR ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR, AND MEANS TO SECURE SAID FLAP PORTIONS TOGETHER TO CLOSE THE BODY; A SOURCE OF WATER COMPRISING A RESERVOIR AND HAVING ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE LEVEL OF WATER THEREIN; WATER CONDUCTING MEANS CONNECTING SAID TANK TO SAID BODY; AND MEANS TO SUSPEND SAID BODY FROM A SUPPORT. 